Population genomics of rainforest mountain frogs (Anura: Limnodynastidae: Philoria) severely impacted by the Australian megafires

The Australian megafires of 2019/20 severely impacted six of seven montane frog species in the genus Philoria, which are endemic to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. Population genomics analysis revealed that narrow-range species can be managed as single populations, while P. kundagungan, P. loveridgei, and P. sphagnicolus exhibit strong genetic differentiation between mountaintop populations, indicating limited natural dispersal. Fire-impacted populations, such as P. pughi and P. knowlesi, may face long-term threats due to reduced adaptive capacity. The study recommends prioritizing in situ conservation, genetic rescue, and translocation efforts to enhance resilience in these isolated, ancient frogs, emphasizing the need for updated fire buffer management in a changing climate.

Lin, S., Newell, D., Mitchell, N. J., Donnellan, S. C., Mahony, M., Bolitho, L. J., & Catullo, R. A. (2025). Population genomics of rainforest mountain frogs (Anura: Limnodynastidae: Philoria) severely impacted by the Australian megafires. Conservation Genetics, 26(5), 929–942. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-025-01713-2